In the second of his reminiscences of top cycling 40 years ago in West Cumbria, veteran Gerard McCarten continues with the weekend that saw a national champion compete in the area.
After the disappointment on Saturday, the National Road Race Champion John Cavanagh arrived at Moresby Parks for the 56-mile Miller Mining Jubilee Road Race on the Sunday with renewed resolve etched into every feature.
The anticipation was palpable as a formidable field assembled: not only the reigning champion but also the renowned Gornall brothers, Mark and Alan – stalwarts of both the Tour of Britain and the Great Britain international squad – took their places on the start line.
Alongside them stood 45 other accomplished riders, each representing the cycling heartlands of North West England. The challenge awaiting them was formidable: seven gruelling laps of an eight-mile circuit, each turn and gradient promising to test the best.
From the heart of Moresby Parks, the route swept southwards before swinging left toward Frizington, where a rapid descent demanded both skill and nerve. At the bottom, a sharp right signalled the start of a punishing 1-in-4 climb, riders rising out of the saddle as the gradient bit hard.
The road then veered left, easing only slightly into the long, stamina-sapping drag up Steele Brow – a climb that would become a crucible for ambitions lap after lap.
At the summit, the landscape unspooled into undulating tarmac, every crest and dip sapping strength as the peloton pressed on to a left fork, followed swiftly by a left turn carrying them to the crown of Tut Hill.
Cresting this high point, riders braced themselves for a plunging descent, speed building as the road dropped toward Pica.
There, a left-hand turn at the base revealed the village, and another leg-burning ascent awaited before a series of left and right twists led the field back out onto the Moresby Parks road and the closing run to the finish.
From the start the peloton swept towards the steep approach of Steele Brow when two riders brushed wheels at the foot of the ascent, their clash sending a shockwave through the tightly-bunched pack. Several riders tumbled, bikes clattering across the road, and the field splintered in an instant.
Mark Gornall, seizing the chaos with the instincts of a champion, surged clear up the brutal slope, each pedal stroke etching distance between himself and the scattered chasers.
By the time he crested Tut Hill – the crowd roaring encouragement from the roadside – he had secured the first coveted points towards the King of the Mountains prize, sponsored by Brooks Music Centre of Whitehaven.
Cavanagh, momentarily trapped in the chaos that followed the crash, found himself among a cluster of frustrated chasers, each desperate to limit their losses. With grim determination, he surged to the front of the group, driving a frantic pursuit to bridge the widening gap to the leaders.
Peter Boyd of Liverpool Century also seized the opportunity, breaking clear with a bold acceleration to join in the pursuit of the leaders. In a display of raw grit, he and Cavanagh clawed their way back, finally rejoining the lead contenders by the third lap.
The contest for the King of the Mountains was equally fierce. John McGuiness of Horwich Cycling Club, undeterred by the early drama, powered over the second climb to secure valuable hill points.
Boyd, his earlier effort showing no signs of fatigue, swept up the next two ascents, vaulting into the lead of the coveted KoM competition.
But fortune proved fickle – just as Boyd looked to consolidate his advantage, a cruel puncture forced him to the roadside.
Mark Gornall, sensing the moment, attacked once more, with Cavanagh now firmly latched onto his wheel and the crowd sensing the race was entering a decisive phase.
With the front group reshaped, two fugitives soon broke clear of the remnants, carving out a commanding lead as the miles ticked by.
The British champion, calculating each move with measured composure, allowed Gornall to gather up the remaining King of the Mountains points, ensuring the Brooks Music Centre prize would be his.
The pair then worked in harmony, their shared effort propelling them down the thrilling 1-in-4 descent from Tut Hill – speedometers nudging beyond 50mph, the wind howling in their ears and adrenaline coursing.
But as the road pitched upward once more, Cavanagh sensed his moment, and, with a sudden, electrifying burst, he accelerated away on the next climb through Pica, prising open a decisive gap.
Now alone, he pressed on with unwavering resolve, the last five miles a testament to his endurance and focus. Spectators lining the final stretch witnessed a masterclass in solo riding as Cavanagh, arms aloft, crossed the finish line at Moresby Parks in triumphant isolation.
Meanwhile, an inspired ride by Matthew Hawe of Cleveleys Road Club had brought the promising youngster away from the chasing pack and alongside Gornall.
Then, in a dramatic finish for second spot on the podium it was the Cleveleys RC rider who got the verdict by less than half a wheel. A notable scalp by the young man.
It remains for the final paragraph to be penned by Brian Cookson: ‘No, the Velo Club Cumbria’s weekend will never rival the Tour de France, but for the participants and local inhabitants something a little bit special happened this weekend.”
